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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Double hyphen?

Hi,

Is this correct?

The decision was based on a soft-power-related system.

Or it is "soft power-related system"?

What i mean is that the decision was based on a system that is related to soft power.

The question here is whether I need to use TWO hyphens.

I am not asking for alternative ways to write this sentence (e.g. "The decision was based on a sytem related to soft power").

Thank you.
  

Top answer

Hi, Use two hyphens, to avoid the suggestion that it is a soft system that is power-related. But, as you seem to suspect, it is not good English to string multiple hyphens together in that way. Clive

— Clive

  • Hi, Use two hyphens, to avoid the suggestion that it is a soft system that is power-related.
  • But, as you seem to suspect, it is not good English to string multiple hyphens together in that way.
  • Clive
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19 Answers
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Hi,

Use two hyphens, to avoid the suggestion that it is a soft system that is power-related.

But, as you seem to suspect, it is not good English to string multiple hyphens together in that way.

Clive
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Hi Clive,

Actually, I have a follow-up question.

If the word was not "soft" but something like "management," will it still require two hyphens?

For example,

I don't like management-system-related classes.

or I dont like managmeent system-related classes.

Or how about

I want to discuss high school-related issues. Here, I know that you
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Hi,

Actually, I have a follow-up question.

If the word was not "soft" but something like "management," will it still require two hyphens?

For example,

I don't like management-system-related classes.

or I dont like managmeent system-related classes.

These suggest two different meanings to me. It would be much more pr
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Hi Clive,

Again,

My question is what the correct grammar is in terms of hyphening words like these.

It's not to determine the best way to write them.

So I am questioning whether "management system-related classes" or "management-system-related classes" is correct.

Here the meaning is "some classes related to management systems."

Please help.
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The only reasonable way out of this awkward structure, if you insist on keeping the word order, is:

management-system related classes
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Hello,

Why is there no hyphen between "system" and related"?

Should there always be a hyphen between them regardless of whether there is a hyphen between "management" and "system"?
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Because then there would be too many hyphens and you should recast the phrase.
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hmmm...

Are "high school-related programs" or "management system-related programs" acceptable?

Or are these grammatically incorrect?

Counting on your expertise.
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No. They associate the wrong words. As you know, it is:

[high school] related programs

[management system] related programs
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